UC San Diego Hosts its Annual Birthday Celebration for Dr. Seuss March 2

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Due to conflicting activities on campus, we have cancelled the Seuss Day celebration at Geisel Library. Our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience this might cause.

Countless readers have been delighted by Dr. Seuss’s unmatched ability to craft catchy rhymes that are nearly impossible to forget. To help celebrate the life and work of this iconic American author, UC San Diego will host its annual birthday celebration for Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, near the Silent Tree outside Geisel Library on Monday, March 2 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This year marks the author’s 116^th birthday, a celebration that coincides with national Read Across America Day. Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Elizabeth H. Simmons, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Alysson Satterlund and the Audrey Geisel University Librarian Erik Mitchell will kick off the celebration with a cake cutting. In addition to delicious confections, attendees can enjoy an hour of Seussical whimsy with punch, carnival games, prizes, party hats, buttons, giant inflatable Seuss characters, a coloring wall, photobooth, and a Teeny Tiny Pit Orchestra performance directed by the Library’s Scott Paulson.

In addition to the birthday festivities, a small exhibit of materials from Seuss’s book Happy Birthday to You! will be on view from February 14 through March 15 on the main floor of Geisel Library, which has served as UC San Diego’s flagship building since it was erected in 1970.

“This annual event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the tremendous impact of one of America’s favorite authors who encouraged literacy around the world with his storytelling,” said Simmons. “We treasure the Dr. Seuss materials housed at the UC San Diego Library Special Collections & Archives, and hope community members will join us to celebrate his birthday and view the items on display in the exhibit.”

In 1991, the UC San Diego Library’s Special Collections & Archives became the official repository for the original works of Dr. Seuss. The collection now holds more than 20,000 items, including original drawings, sketches, manuscript drafts, books, notebooks, photographs and memorabilia, documenting the full range of Geisel’s creative achievements.

On December 1, 1995 The University Library Building was renamed Geisel Library in honor of Audrey and Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) for the generous contributions they have made to the Library and their devotion to improving literacy.

UC San Diego invites Dr. Seuss fans near and far to attend the event—which is free and open to students, faculty, staff, and the public—and participate in the conversation on social media by using #UCSDSeussDay. For more information about the Dr. Seuss Collection at the UC San Diego Library, visit https://lib.ucsd.edu/dr-seuss-collection.